Torrontés
is the characteristic white wine grape of Argentina, producing
fresh, aromatic white wines.[1]
Three Torrontes varieties exist in Argentina: Torrontés
Riojano, the most common, Torrontés Sanjuanino,
and Torrontés Mendocino. It is primarily Torrontes
Riojano that has received attention for the quality of
its wines, and is the variety used for most high-class
Argentine wines simply labelled Torrontes. All three Argentine
Torrontes varieties belong to the Criollas group
of grape varieties, which is a term used for presumably
American-born cultivars the European grapevine Vitis
vinifera.There is also a Torrontes grape variety from
Galicia in Spain, also known as Albillo Mayor, but it
probably has no direct relationship to the Argentine Torrontes
varieties.[2]

Wine
description

beautiful
structure and acidity along with enticing fruit flavors
--fruity, floral and yet still quite dry

Food
pairing

smoked
meats, mild to medium-strong cheeses, and seafood. pairs
well with spicy food

Pedigree
and history

Recent
research using DNA profiling has shown that the different
Torrontés are genetically closely related but distinct grape
varieties, and that Torrontes Riojano, Torrontes Sanjuanino,
and Torontel (also known as Moscatel Amarillo) are all separate
crossings of Mission (originally reported as Criolla Chica)
and Muscat of Alexandria.[3][4][5]
Torrontes Mendocino was found to probably be a crossing
of Muscat of Alexandria and another, so far unidentified
grape variety.[6]
While the Muscat-like qualities of the Torrontes varieties
meant that a relationship to Muscat of Alexandria had been
expected, the presence of Mission or Criolla Chica in the
pedigree was unexpected to the researchers.[7]

It is
not known how Torrontes arrived in Argentina, but it seems
to have been there a long time, suggesting that it and the
other varieties of the Criollas group were brought
by Spanish colonists, quite possibly missionaries.

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